Dmitry Bivol stops Malik Zinad in clinical title defence, Artur Beterbiev fight set for October

Dmitry Bivol stopped Malik Zinad in the sixth round as he defended his WBA light heavyweight belt with a clinical display in Riyadh on Saturday night.

Bivol had been due to headline the event when he was scheduled to come up against Artur Beterbiev, with his compatriot holding the IBF, WBO and WBC belts at 175lbs.

At short notice, an injury to Beterbiev meant that an opponent needed to be located to keep Bivol busy for his second fight in almost a year and a half, and Zinad stepped up.

Although unbeaten in his 22 professional fights, and a previous owner of the IBO and WBC Mediterranean straps at the weight, the Libyan was the clear underdog coming into the fight.

However, many a favourite has been upset when a victim of complacency, and also when training plans are changed late on and a new style of fighter is presented.

The two met ahead of Daniel Dubois’ heavyweight clash with Filip Hrgovic, separate from the 5 vs 5 competition between Queensberry and Matchroom.

Zinad walked onto one in the first round and was back to his feet quickly for an eight count.

The Libyan rallied in the second round and did not look to be out of his depth, though Bivol appeared content to wait for his opportunities, and finished the third with Zinad in the corner and defending, with blood coming from his nose.

Zinad may have won that round, and the fourth then took a surprising turn when the two fighters bumped heads and exchanged words after the bell. They needed the referee to separate them, and he warned them over their antics before the fifth began.

Bivol switched up the pace in the sixth and with a minute remaining, the Russian had his rival in the corner, failing to withstand the blows coming his way.

The referee quickly decided that he had seen enough and waved away the fight before Bivol could inflict any further damage.

Bivol now will turn his attention to a potential defence later in the year, but his eyes will be on Beterbiev’s return ahead of long-anticipated undisputed match-up.

The rearranged fight was confirmed in the ring for October 12.

The two countrymen are widely regarded as the very best the division have to offer.

Beterbiev has a 100% stoppage record and despite his 39 years, many around him believe he is still close to or at his prime.

As for Bivol, he remains one of the few men to defeat Canelo Alvarez, with the Mexican thoroughly outclassed when they met at light heavyweight.

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